Lexie's 5th Birthday

Lexie wanted a My Little Pony Party for her birthday, and that's what she got! It's funny, I was trying to coax her into doing something else. Darn, I guess I'm not in control of all the decisions anymore! She's growing so much! She was quite the hostess, passing out party hats(unicorn horns) to her friends and making sure everyone got a cupcake before her. She just seemed so grown up! It was at a neat place called Hitchin' Post Ponies. I was so happy to find it so that I didn't have to have the party at my house nor have a pony brought to my yard! We had been planning and talking about the party for months and she was so excited. However, on the way to the party she was being really quiet in the car. I asked her why and she said because she was so nervous! Here's Cowboy Mike announcing her. I loved how they led the party/games and made announcements. Here you can see the tail we put on her outfit. She was so happy! Brooks just hung out in his stroller all evening. He's such a good boy. He's 4 months old in this picture.

Junk Collector/Borderline Hoarder...you decide?

My Tripp received a work/tool bench for Christmas a year ago. It has been his favorite thing! It's adorable and over the past year has evolved into a children's version of the show Hoarders! I'm not joking! I've been working with him on organizing it, but it just seems ingrained in him that if I am about to throw something out, he immediately asks if he can keep it for his "work." It's hilarious, but slightly worrisome at the same time. Today I finished a can of formula off, and he immediately saw it was running low and asked, "can you please save it for my work." What?? I asked why he needed it, and he said to use as a trashcan. Haha! Ok, I guess that's a good idea. He'll go in the pantry or junk drawer and just look for things he wants to keep in his "work." Like a stack of bowls, and empty paper towel roll, forks, string, etc. Look closely at the pictures and see what all you can find! I am starting to get annoyed because it's nothing but a bunch of junk all over the place! When I go to collect back my things he's taken (like my dental floss), he gets upset. I'm not lying! Here's some pictures so take a look for yourself and tell me if you think I have a hoarder on my hands! Here's the formula container in the soccer bucket. a picture of Dana taped up there money and water balloons my dental floss and some yarn as well as a wand from lexie's closet a roll of paper towels!? leftover napkins from Lexie's birthday some snowcone cups in the bag, some pink streamers in the background he took from the craft bucket. his gum collection from Grandma and Frankie post it notes

wildflowers

We hadn't been to our place in over a month. Randall's dad goes out there more often than us, and he had told us that some little wildflowers were blooming, but I had no idea just how gorgeous they would be. It actually made me cry! This is our first spring there and one of my biggest hopes was that there would be wildflowers on the place! Looks like my prayer came true! Can't wait to get there again to see how many more bluebonnets are blooming! We were there to celebrate Grandma's birthday with many friends and family!

Brookster

Such a happy baby! He loves his bath!

T Ball

ready position swinging the bat. Well, we decided to start Lexie in Tball this year. I have not been very enthusiastic about it, because it's a pretty big commitment for someone that didn't even really ask to play. However, I must say that we are having a blast. She is loving it. She is the only girl on her team and she seems really engaged in the games and practices! We'll see if that lasts! She even got the game ball for the first game! I think it's because she's a girl! Ha!

Dizzy Lizzie

So for the past month I have been constantly dizzy. It doesn't get worse or better in certain positions. I'm just dizzy. About a week after the dizziness started my right arm started to go really numb off and on throughout the day. My neck also was hurting. The numb arm started to affect my sleeping too. It's such an uncomfortable feeling. I never go to the doctor, but the dizziness was really freaking me out. I was nervous holding the baby. I was so nervous I even taught Lexie about how to dial 911 and what to do if something happened to me. I was also starting to get nauseous because of the dizziness. I first took a pregnancy test to rule that out...negative. I made an appointment with a regular Dr. I didn't even have one because I don't remember the last time I've been to the dr. except the ob/gyn. He didn't have many answers, but gave me some motion sickness pills. I decided not to take them since I am breastfeeding and they are an "unknown" on the safe medication list for breastfeeding, and it was just for a temporary fix. I then went to an ENT to rule out any inner ear stuff. He said my ears look clear. He ordered some basic blood work to test for anemia and glucose levels. Those were normal. SO I decided to go to a neurologist. I tell you, it must be bad for me to go to all this trouble with 3 little kids that I have to find a babysitter for! He ordered neck x-rays and more blood work to test the thyroid, b12, and some other things. X-rays were clear. I'm still waiting on the blood work. He also ordered me to get an MRI of the brain and cervical spine. I had the MRI Friday and it was clear! Yay! So, I still don't have any answers, but at least the MRI was clear. I was most worried about that! The numb arm could just be carpal tunnel and possibly could get better after I'm done nursing!? The neurologist is going to do a nerve test at my next appt to check for that. The dizzines, I just don't know about though. I guess we'll see if the bloodwork says anything. I'm really just praying that all of this is postpartum/nursing/hormone related and will go away! I was convinced I was going to die a few weeks ago, but I'm a little more optimistic now. :) Say a prayer for me though! I've had an empty feeling in me, thinking about what would happen to my kids if I had something debilitating or if I were to die. I know, I'm getting ahead of myself here, but I must admit these thoughts crept into me the last few weeks. :( I'm praising God for a clear MRI though!

I guess we're on the same page

I'm so glad that Lexie and Tripp love Brooks so much! I got the feeling the other day that she was thinking what I am always thinking about my kids. It made me think she really is loving her little brother, but mostly just loving having a baby around. We were playing with Brooks, making him smile, and talking to him. I guess I always say in baby talk something about him getting so big. She said, " I wish Brooks didn't have to grow up. I want him to stay a baby forever, because I love him the way he is." I know the feeling! Can't believe my little girl is entering Kindergarten in the fall! So bittersweet watching your kids grow!

Proof reading to your kids increases their vocabulary

We checked out the book "The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog!" by Mo Willems at the library. I really got it because Tripp saw it and remembered he read one of them at school. I didn't really think Lexie would like it, but boy was I wrong. It's her favorite book. It has lots of voice in it, and if you read it right, it's super fun! Anyways, the pigeon is describing how a hot dog tastes to a little duckling. The pigeon says, "Well, they are a taste sensation." The other day Lexie ate a yogurt and I asked how she liked that flavor. She said, " I like it...it's a taste sensation!" She used the same emotion in her voice that I use when I read the story. It was too cute.